IN the upcoming novel , a young scuba guide, scouting new dive sites in the shipwreck-laden reefs that rim Bermuda makes a fatal discovery ? a treasure more valuable than gold or jewels. And some people are willing to kill for it.

Enter wisecracking ex-National Football Player-turned-investigator Zack Chasteen, who has been dragged to Bermuda by his lady love, Barbara Pickering.

She needs his help throwing a 75th birthday party for her wealthy and eccentric Aunt Trula who lives on the island.

While in Bermuda, Zack also drops by the bank to visit his money, millions earned in recent exploits that Zack has in one of the island's offshore accounts.

Big problem: Zack's money is gone and his bankers can't seem to explain where it is or who might have it.

Then Aunt Trula's good friend, Sir Teddy Schwartz, salvager and diver extraordinaire, becomes Zack's guide to a Bermuda ? and a possible suspect when Zack realises that the the true cross, a legendary Christian relic, may have been lost in a 15th-century shipwreck on Bermuda's reefs.

Wry humor and engaging Bermuda history help propel the plot of Florida-based author Bob Morrris' third, island-themed Zack Chasteen novel.

A contributor to , , and other publications, Mr. Morris' first Zack Chasteen mystery, , was released to wide acclaim in November 2004 and was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Mystery Novel and chosen by theas one the year's Top Five Mysteries.

Mr. Morris's second novel, , was released in October 2005 and was a BookSense Pick by the American Booksellers Association (ABA)

In an enthusiastic advance review, the ABA's Susan Wasson this week saidwhich is being released by St. Martin's Press in February ? is a worthy successor to its two predecessors.

"One spends a lot of time laughing when reading one of Morris's books," she said.

"Zack (gets)involved in the murders of divers looking for historic relics in shipwrecks. Money laundering and the illegal sale of found treasures add to the mystery. The characters are not only fun but described in a way that makes them seem real. If you haven't read a Zack Chasteen mystery, you need to start now!

In a recent interview, Mr. Morris was asked to describe the plot of and how the book came to be written.

"Oh, it's just your typical tale of shipwrecks and lost treasure and money laundering and palm trees and love and a teeny bit of sex and death by icepick and, oh yeah, the search for the True Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," he said.

"I went to Bermuda a couple of years ago to write a magazine story, then decided it had all the makings of a good place to commit murder and started cobbling together the pieces? It comes out in February 2007 from St. Martin's I'm off next to Trinidad to research the fourth book in the series ?

nFor more information visit Bob Morris' online at www.bobmorris.net